Fine and gross motor ability in males with ADHD

Abstract

In the this study, both fine and gross motor ability of males with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were compared with a group of control children. Three groups of males with the following ADHD subtypes: predominantly inattentive (ADHD-PI; n=50), hyperactive/impulsive (ADHD-HI; n=16), or combined (ADHD-C; n=38) were compared with 39 control males. Mean ages for the control group were 10 years 4 months (SD 1 year 4 months, range 7 years 8 months to 12 years 11 months); for the ADHD-PI group, 10 years (SD 1 year 2 months, range 7 years 10 months to 13 years); for the ADHD-HI group, 9 years 11 months (SD 1 year 2 months), range 7 years 11 months to 12 years 6 months); and for the ADHD-C group 10 years 2 months (SD 1 year 4 months, range 8 to 13 years). The Australian Disruptive Behaviours Scale and Connors' Parent Rating Scale-Revised were used to assess ADHD symptomatology. Verbal IQ was estimated using two verbal subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and movement ability was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and the Purdue Pegboard test. Findings demonstrated that the children with ADHD had significantly poorer movement ability than control children. A high percentage of these children displayed movement difficulties consistent with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). In addition, the current study found that the type and degree of movement difficulty differed between subtypes. The Total Impairment score, as derived from the MABC, was less severe for the ADHD-HI group than the other two ADHD groups, but more severe than for the control group. Males with ADHD-PI and ADHD-C had significantly poorer fine motor ability (p<0.001) than control males, whereas the ADHD-HI group did not differ significantly from any of the other groups. As children with ADHD only and the control group did not differ significantly on fine motor ability but were significantly better than children categorized with both ADHD and DCD, it was argued that poorer fine motor ability found in children with ADHD could not be attributed to deficits in attention and concentration, but rather to factors relating to their motor ability.

Fine motor skills and effects of methylphenidate in children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and developmental coordination disorder

“…Christiansen (2000) and Pitcher et al (2003) also reported poor manual dexterity in children with ADHD-DCD. The poor handwriting quality found in the present study was in line with the results found by Lerer et al (1977).…”

“…In children with both ADHD and developmental coordination disorder (DCD; ADHD-DCD), studies on fine motor function are scarce. Pitcher et al (2003) showed poorer fine motor performance in children with ADHD-DCD than in children with ADHD. Christiansen (2000) showed poor manual dexterity in children with 'deficits in attention, motor control, and perception' (DAMP), a term used in Scandinavia for children with ADHD-DCD (Kadesjö and Gillberg 1998).…”

Motor development of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

“…Further research in this area is needed as the basis of the relationship between ADHD and motor delay remains poorly understood. 3,4 In addition, motor problems may have a severe impact on children's daily lives and occur in 30-50% of those with ADHD. 3,4 Previous research has investigated specific motor difficulties (e.g., fine or gross motor ability) in ADHD 4 as well as the relationship between the cardinal symptoms of ADHD and motor performance.…”

“…3,4 In addition, motor problems may have a severe impact on children's daily lives and occur in 30-50% of those with ADHD. 3,4 Previous research has investigated specific motor difficulties (e.g., fine or gross motor ability) in ADHD 4 as well as the relationship between the cardinal symptoms of ADHD and motor performance. 5,6 Other studies have examined motor development in children with ADHD, namely an assessment of motor ability involving many facets of a child's performance, such as balance, fine and gross motor skills, and cognitive aspects related to the motor act (e.g., temporal and spatial organization).…”

Coordination difficulty and internalizing symptoms in adults: A twin/sibling study

“…Motor coordination difficulties are associated with a number of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Bhat et al, 2011), attention deficithyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Pitcher et al, 2003) and dyslexia (Fawcett and Nicolson, 1995), and are central to the diagnostic criteria for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Poor motor skills early in life predict later anxiety and depression symptoms, suggesting that coordination difficulties might be a developmental risk factor for internalizing problems (Piek et al, 2010;Sigurdsson et al, 2002).…”